For the second straight game, the Malone University men's basketball team fought back from a double-digit first-half deficit.  However, this time the Pioneers weren't able to collect the victory as a late MU scoring drought allowed Wilberforce University to register an 83-72 win at Osborne Hall on Wednesday night.

On Saturday at Bluefield State College, Malone fell behind by 19 points in the opening period before storming all the way back for a 70-67 triumph. On Wednesday, the Pioneers once again faced an uphill climb, trailing by a 40-29 margin with under a minute to play in the first half.  Much like on Saturday, Malone fought back into the game, eventually pulling ahead 56-54 on a three-pointer by guard Nate Sheppard with a little less than 10 minutes to play.

The two teams traded baskets over the next few possessions before back-to-back buckets by Wilberforce forward Brandon Murphy pushed the visitors' lead out to five at 67-62.  A jumper by Pioneer guard Ty Jordan and a lay-up by Wilberforce guard Darrion Riddle would make it 69-64 with five minutes remaining.  Sheppard's offensive rebound and put-back on the Pioneers' next trip down the floor slashed the Bulldog lead back to three, but that was as close as Malone would get the rest of the way.

Following Sheppard's basket at the 4:22 mark, Malone would not score again for the next three minutes.  Wilberforce capitalized on the offensive dry spell, using a 10-0 scoring run to put the game out of reach.

Game Highlights
-After making just 29.7% (11 of 37) of its first-half shot attempts, Malone bounced back to connect on 50% (14 of 28) of its field goals in the final stanza and finish the game with an overall shooting percentage of 38.8% (26 o 67)
-The Pioneers struggled somewhat from three-point range, connecting on eight of 33 (24.2%) attempts from deep
-Wilberforce countered by sinking 48.4% (30 of 62) of its shot attempts, including 38.5% (10 of 26) of its treys
-Malone held a 43-37 edge in total rebounds, including an 18-11 advantage on the offensive glass that led to 15 second-chance points
-Wilberforce grabbed nine steals and took advantage of 14 Malone turnovers, scoring 23 points off Pioneer miscues
-The Pioneers, meanwhile, scored only seven points off 11 Wilberforce turnovers
 
Malone Individual Highlights
-Sheppard matched his season-high with 19 points.  He also grabbed 10 rebounds for the first double-double of his career
-Forward Mitchell Spotleson notched his first double-double of the season with 14 points and 12 rebounds
-Jordan finished with 14 points and four assists
-Guard Kamron Carroll added seven points, three rebounds and two assists
 
Wilberforce Individual Highlights
-Guard Demond Parker notched a game-high 20 points
-Guard Patrick Mitchell filled up the stat sheet with 18 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and three steals
-Murphy also reached double figures, tallying 14 points, six rebounds and three blocks in 20 minutes off the bench

Up Next:
Malone will be idle until next Friday (Dec. 16) when the squad hosts a 5:00 p.m. contest against Notre Dame College